Blueberry plant, EB 8-17

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, which is denominated varietally hereinafter as ‘EB 8-17’ and which produces a large fruit, which is mature for harvesting and shipment in the early season under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.

LATIN NAME

‘Vaccinium Hybrid’

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘EB 8-17’

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application claims priority from Australian Plant BreedersRights Application Serial No. 2012/114, and which was filed on 14 Jun.2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new, novel, and distinct variety ofblueberry plant ‘Vaccinium Hybrid,’ and which has been denominatedvarietally, hereinafter, as ‘EB 8-17’.

ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

The present variety of blueberry plant resulted from an ongoingdevelopment program which I've conducted to identify new plantvarieties. To this end, I make both controlled and hybridcross-pollinations in order to produce plant populations from whichimproved progenies are evaluated and thereafter selected.

The blueberry plant ‘EB 8-17’ was originated by me, and selected from apopulation of new plants growing on my farm, which is located nearYanchep Springs, Yanchep, Western Australia. This new variety of plantwas developed in 2005 following the controlled cross-pollination of theseed parent ‘SB-1’ [unpatented] with the pollen parent a blueberry plantnamed ‘03-6’ [also unpatented]. This first cross-pollination occurred in2005. The seed parent ‘SB-1’ is characterized by a blueberry plant thathas a semi-upright growth pattern, and which further produces large,firm fruit, with an early season of flowering. In contrast, the pollenparent, blueberry plant ‘03-6’ [unpatented] is characterized by aspreading growth habit, and an early season of flowering and a largefruit size. Seeds derived from this original cross-pollination wereremoved from the seed parent ‘SB-1’ and produced approximately 500plants. These first plants produced a first crop of fruit in 2007. Afurther assessment of the fruit produced showed desirable fruitqualities, and growth habits. After conducting a further assessmentduring the 2008 growing season, the new variety ‘EB 8-17’ was selectedas showing particularly desirable traits. Subsequent asexualreproduction of ‘EB 8-17’, by cuttings, occurred during the 2009 through2011 growing seasons, and led to the conclusion that the blueberry plant‘EB 8-17’ appeared to be distinct, and novel relative to other knownblueberry plants. The present variety of blueberry plant is noteworthyfor producing extra large and firm fruit, and which further has a small,dry picking scar and an excellent flavor. The new variety further hasearly flowering and fruit production dates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing, which is provided, is a color photograph ofthe new blueberry plant variety.

FIG. 1 depicts several whole fruit of the new variety of blueberryplant, including mature fruit displaying an external coloration, whichis sufficiently matured for harvesting and shipment, as well as severalleaves showing the dorsal and ventral coloration thereof, and avegetative shoot showing the growth habit of the new variety. Thesupplied photograph further illustrates a shoot bearing typical leaves,and several of the leaves showing the dorsal and ventral colorationthereof, as well as the fruit produced by the closest known variety ofblueberry plant named ‘Sharpeblue’ [unpatented].

The colors in these photographs are nearly as true as reasonablypossible in a color representation of this type. Due to chemicaldevelopment, processing and printing, the leaves and fruit depicted inthese photographs may or may not be accurate when compared to the actualspecimen. For this reason, future color references should be made to thecolor plates and common color descriptions provided hereinafter.

NOT A COMMERCIAL WARRANTY

The following detailed description has been prepared to solely complywith the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, and does not constitute acommercial warranty (either expressed or implied) that the presentvariety will, in the future, display the botanical, horticultural orother characteristics as set forth, hereinafter. Therefore, thisdisclosure may not be relied upon to support any future legal claimsincluding, but not limited to, breach of warranty of merchantability orfitness for any particular purpose, or non-infringement which isdirected, in whole, or in part, to the present new variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the botanical and horticultural detailsof this new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, the following hasbeen observed during the sixth fruiting season, and under the ecologicalconditions prevailing at the farm of the inventor, which is located nearthe town of Yanchep Springs, in Yanchep, Western Australia.

-   Plant:    -   -   Plant vigor.—Generally — Considered strong for the species.            This is in contrast to the vigor as expressed by the            ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant where this characteristic is            considered only medium to strong.        -   Plant growth habit.—Generally — Considered semi-upright.            This is in contrast to the growth habit of the ‘Sharpeblue’            blueberry plant which only has an upright growth habit.        -   One year old shoots.—Color — Green.        -   One year old shoots.—Internode Length — Considered medium to            long.-   Leaf:    -   -   Leaf length.—Considered medium to long for the species.        -   Leaf width.—Considered medium to broad for the species.        -   Leaf.—Ratio of Length/Width — Medium to large for the            species.        -   Leaf shape.—Considered ovate.        -   Leaf color.—Dorsal surface — Green.        -   Leaf color intensity.—Dorsal surface — Considered dark. This            is in contrast to the dorsal surface color as displayed by            the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant where this color is            considered light to medium green. This is seen most clearly            by reference to FIG. 1.        -   Leaf.—Marginal Edge — Entire.-   Flower:    -   -   Flower bud coloration.—Generally — A very weak anthocyanin            color appears.        -   Inflorescence.—Length — Considered average for the species.        -   Flower.—Shape — The corolla has an urceolate shape.        -   Flower size.—Generally — The corolla has a medium size. This            is in contrast to the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant where            this feature of the flower is considered medium to large.        -   Corolla tube coloration.—Considered to have a very weak to            weak anthocyanin coloration. This is in contrast to the same            characteristic in the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant, which is            more predominant, but is still considered weak, overall.        -   Flower.—Ridges — Ridges are present on the corolla.-   Fruit:    -   -   Fruit cluster density.—Generally — Considered medium for the            variety. This is in contrast to the variety most closely            similar to it, that being the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant            [unpatented], and which has a fruit cluster density, which            is considered to be dense to very dense.        -   Unripe fruit color.—Intensity — Considered dark green. This            is in contrast to the unripe fruit color intensity of the            fruit produced by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant, which is            the closest known variety, and which displays a light to            medium green color.        -   Fruit size.—Generally — Considered large for the species.            This is in contrast to the fruit produced by the            ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant [unpatented], and which            produces fruit which is only medium in size. This can be            seen most clearly by reference to FIG. 1.        -   Fruit shape.—When observed in a longitudinal plane, the            fruit is oblate in shape.        -   Sepal orientation.—Generally speaking, the sepals are            considered semi-erect. This is in contrast to the sepals as            displayed in the “Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant where the            sepal orientation is considered to be erect.        -   Sepal form.—Incurving. This is in contrast to the sepal form            as seen in the “Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant where the sepal            form is considered to be straight.        -   Calyx basin.—Diameter — Considered medium to large. This is            in contrast to the fruit produced by the “Sharpeblue’            blueberry plant where the diameter of the calyx basin is            considered small to medium for the variety.        -   Calyx basin depth.—Considered very shallow, to average in            depth.        -   Intensity of bloom.—Considered average for the species. This            is in contrast to the bloom as seen in the “Sharpeblue’            blueberry plant where this same characteristic is considered            to be strong.        -   Fruit skin color.—The present color of the skin of the            fruit, at full maturity, is considered dark blue.        -   Fruit firmness.—Considered medium to firm. This is in            contrast to the fruit produced by the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry            plant, which is considered soft to medium for the species.        -   Fruit sweetness.—Considered medium to high for the species.            This is in contrast to the fruit sweetness as produced by            the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant, where the sweetness is            considered to be only average for the species.        -   Fruit.—Acidity — Considered low to medium for the species.            This is lower than the average fruit acidity as experienced            with the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant, which is the closest            known variety.        -   Plant.—Fruiting Type — Fruit appears on one year old, and            current season shoots.        -   Vegetative bud burst.—Generally — The vegetative bud burst            occurs very early in the season. This is earlier in time            than the bud burst as observed for the ‘Sharpeblue’            blueberry plant under the same ecological conditions.        -   Flowering on one year old shoots.—Generally speaking this            date of flowering is quite early in the season, and is            earlier in time than the flowering as displayed by the            ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant, which is the closest known            variety.        -   Flowering on current year's shoots.—Generally — Considered            very early in the season, and earlier in time than the            flowering time as seen on the “Sharpeblue” blueberry plant,            which is the closest known variety.        -   Date of fruit ripening on one year old shoots.—Considered            very early in the season, and earlier in time than the fruit            ripening as seen on the ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant, which            is the closest known variety, and when grown under similar            ecological conditions.        -   Fruit on current year's shoots.—Considered very early, and            earlier in time than the fruit ripening date for the            ‘Sharpeblue’ blueberry plant, which is the closest known            variety.        -   Resistance to insects and disease.—No particular            susceptibilities were noted. The present variety has not            been tested to expose or detect any susceptibilities or            resistances to any known plant and/or fruit diseases.

Although the new variety of blueberry plant possesses the describedcharacteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailingnear Yanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia, it should beunderstood that variations of the usual magnitude and characteristicsincident to changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pestcontrol, frost, climatic variables and horticultural management are tobe expected.

Having thus described and illustrated my new variety of blueberry plant,what I claim is new and desire to secure by plant letters patent is: 1.A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, substantially asillustrated and described, and which is characterized as the novelty byproducing a large fruit, which is mature for harvesting and shipmentduring the early season under the ecological conditions prevailing inYanchep, Western Australia.